Passing-Thought

make room for the new year

I kicked off the new year by making my room more a room with room. Today, I picked up a computer desk from Best Buy and hung a Van Gogh painting my mom got for me a few years ago. I redressed my bed (that I received last Christmas) into a new comforter and sheet set (that I received this Christmas). I assembled a 5 shelf bookcase which I bought from Walmart with a gift card, and unpacked and reshelved several of my seminary books. I arranged my bookshelves so they are easier to access. Then I set aside a few books I intend on reading next:

Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul by Richard B. Hays
Double Lives, Second Chances: The Cinema of Krysztof Kieslowski by Annette Insdorf
Let the Nations be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions by John Piper
Writing with Style: Conversations on the art of writing by John R. Trimble
The Auburn Avenue Theology -- Pros & Cons: Debating the Federal Vision (in preparation for the annual AAPC Jan 9-11, 2006).

On order: Christ the Lord by Anne Rice (who used to write vampire novels); The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, for an upcoming book study/discussion group.

I'm currently reading The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright.

Other endeavors:
1) Purchase a new Dell laptop (considering the Inspiron XPS M140). My 4.5 year old Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 is wearing out, and seems too slow to run the linguistics software I'm developing with SIL. I've also had trouble doing video editing on my laptop since it doesn't have native firewire or USB 2.0. Furthermore, my laptop is out of warranty. The IT group where I work can do warranty service for Dell laptops, so that's worth the convenience. I've replaced my current laptop three times under warranty!

2) Take swing-dance lessons. Hey, maybe I can learn how to really sweep a girl off her feet! Asking a girl to swing dance is, afterall, a complex social engagement, not too unlike asking a girl to marry.

3) Learn how to play chess, strategically. People complain I take too long to move. I'd like to be able to beat them quicker so they don't have to suffer so long. :) Actually, I hope that improving chess in relation to time can be a character building experience, an exercise in decision making. I have a friend from church who thinks chess applies to everyday life in many practical ways.

4) Learn to speak another language. Okay, so I admit that I took Spanish in highschool so that I would not have to take it in college. But now I really want to learn other languages. I can read basic Ancient Greek and Hebrew. And I have been practicing reading Scripture aloud twice a week which has helped a little. I would especially like to learn German, since several important theology and philosophy books are in German, not too mention music and film. A number of my friends can speak it. But I think it would be best to pick up Spanish. I live in a largely Hispanic neighborhood. Good opportunity to practice.